Double Exposure Blackjack – Pros and Cons

Double Exposure Blackjack, aka the “Two Card Game” is one of the most widely spread Blackjack variations. It is invented by the now legendary game theorist Richard Arnold Epstein.

The major difference between this version and the Standard Blackjack variant is the transparency of the Double Exposure. Here, the dealer’s hand is immediately revealed providing the players with additional information and determining their course of action. This, however, does not come without a price; the house edge in double exposure is higher than in Standard game variation, making up for the advantage that the revealed cards offer to the players.

The Structure and Rules of Double Exposure

Keeping the original game structure, Double Exposure Blackjack enables the players to employ the same strategy they would normally use, with the added value of Dealer’s Disclosure Feature. Since this places the players in a position superior to the one the casino holds, a few adjustments were introduced to keep the balance.

One of the first things that you will notice is that there are no regular Push hands in Double exposure. Moves such as Surrender and Insurance are eliminated from Double exposure as being unnecessary because the players already have full access to the dealer’s cards. Splitting option is available, however, the player will only be able to split the hand once.

Most Double Exposure variants are played with 8 decks, although using 6 decks is not unusual and if you are a card counter, be sure to double check that. Whether or not the dealer hits or stands on soft 17 is another variable, but most players rather opt for the version where the dealer has to stand on soft 17, as it is known to decrease the house edge.

The Cons of Playing Double Exposure Blackjack

The greatest drawback of Double Exposure is that there are no regular Tie or Push hands.

Any Tie hand will be resolved to the dealer’s advantage and if the two hands have the equal value, the dealer is considered to be a winner. The exception to this rule is when both the player and the dealer have Blackjacks – if that should happen, the hand can either be considered as a tie, or the player wins (depending on the casino’s predetermined rules).

Unlike numerous other Blackjack variants, Double Exposure will not allow any side bets as that would dangerously improve the RTP percentage rate. Splitting feature did make the final cut and was kept as a one-time option but re-splitting is not allowed. Last but not least, be prepared for smaller payouts on your Blackjack hands. While the standard game of Blackjack pays 3:2 for a Blackjack, Double Exposure has reduced the ratio to 1:1.

The Pros of Playing Double Exposure Blackjack

Obviously, this is a Blackjack variation where the players are favoured. Using the optimal betting and gameplay strategy can take you a long way, since you are allowed to use the information that the casino provides against the house.

Having the foreknowledge of the dealer’s card also makes the game suitable for the players who are yet to developed their skills and master the strategy. Even if you are just starting to learn about the optimal moves or card counting, you cannot go wrong with Double Exposure Blackjack. Rest assured that it will give you the kind of competitive edge that you will not find in regular Blackjack versions.